as in ditch
a long narrow channel dug in the earth
dug a trench and filled it with water in an attempt to keep the forest fire off her property
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of trench
The story’s most significant character, save Miranda herself, is Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), who once toiled alongside Emily in the assistant trenches and finally surpassed her.
—
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
The men in the community dug trenches to make way for the first pipes, which finally came in 1968, Mayhew-Jones said.
—Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 28 Apr. 2026
Lambros has been in the recruiting trenches for nearly a decade.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
The class was a little light on volume (only two top-100 picks) and trench heft, though, so Washington still has work to do around Jayden Daniels.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trench
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
The men in the community dug trenches to make way for the first pipes, which finally came in 1968, Mayhew-Jones said.
—Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 28 Apr. 2026
Lambros has been in the recruiting trenches for nearly a decade.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
The class was a little light on volume (only two top-100 picks) and trench heft, though, so Washington still has work to do around Jayden Daniels.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trench
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trench
Noun
-
Opening with the lead character found dead in a ditch, the film flashes backward to piece together her life from the memories of others, creating a fragmented portrait of an enigmatic young woman’s life.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
The author Virginia Woolf wrote a famous speculative essay about Shakespeare’s sister Judith—a young woman with all of his talent and none of his opportunities who ended her frustrated life by suicide in a roadside ditch.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Intermittent daytime lane closures will be required for the project, which consists of replacing the concrete median, installing of curb and gutters as well as milling and resurfacing from the intersection to about 800 feet west, according to an Illinois Department of Transportation news release.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
Water that pools near the foundation accelerates the soil-movement problems described above, so inspectors look at slope, gutters and downspouts.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Another hiker died on the same trail one week earlier after falling down a ravine, though officials haven’t clarified whether injuries or illness caused his death.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trench. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
